Cash register



F. L. FULLER CASH REGISTER I March 14, 1933,

Original Filed March 20, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet l F. L. FULLER CASH REGISTER March 14, 1933.

Original Filed March 20, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 ahvznto'a jfi-ederjcfi L fill/er d W/ a S. C. Q?

elm/(rm lrrow w Patented Mar. 14, 1933 umrso STATES PATENT OFFICE rumzmror wns'r'omnqn, NEW JERSEY, nssrsnonmy mnsnn' ASSIGN- Isms; TUVTHINATIONAL cnsn- REGISTER COMPANY, or DAYTON, 01110, A coma- V nxrron or CASH REGISTER ()rikinal'- applicationfledlarch 20, 191%), Serial No. 283,720; Divided and this application filed June 24,

i i 7 i 1927. Serial No. 201,156.

This inventirm relates to'impnovements in cashinegistorsiand: has-for its objectthe pro- \flfiiflnfflifl an: improved indicatingmechanism fbr-machinesoithiszclass.

The machine which is taken for the'purpose ofillustnatibn only is of the type shown .lll thnszapplioatiom for United States patent filledaNovemben'IEQ, 1918,15; No. 263,125 in the'name ofF'nederick L'Full'er, but-the pres.-

ent invention may, however, be embodied in machines: resembling. or difiering greatly from; that shown in said application. The Fuller ap icoticna has-matured into Patent L742,7.01,. anuany 7:,1 930.

- This; application constitutes a division of the; inventor"s= application. Serial No. 283,720 filed, 143M226,- HQ-and; issued September 24513929 as Patent 1,129,338, to; whiclr refcrence; may be had for further information regarding. devices not shown in detail or claimed herein.

'Ilhecmain object o-frt'his'invention isto provide a: rotatable indicator which: is differentially operable to oneof: a certainnuinber of positions by the operation of one or moreofa smaller number ofkeys.

specific: object is the provision of a rotatable indicatormovable to one of four positions by the actuation of one or two of fihmeerkeys.

The invention hasboen illustrated in its preferred. embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein; s i

Fig. L is a vertical sectional? viewof the illustrativemachine looking toward the right and taken just to the: right of. the. left side fra1ne,certain parts having been omitted.

2' is a detail of the-cam provided for efieeting a. movement of the indicator supporting bar. 1

Fig. 3 is a partial rear view/of themachine showing the rotatable transaction indicators and the control: sthere-for. 1

Fig. 4? is a view in side. elevation showing theadj ustment of the-indicator controlling devices when certain keys are depressed.

Fig; 5 is as'deelevation similar to'Fig. 4 showing the" indicators in a; lowered and ad'- jnsted position.

n? the drawings, the; numeral? indicates for the two vertical side frames 12, one of which only is shown in Fig. 1. The mechar nism of the machine is enclosed by a suitable cabinet 14, provided with glass windows through which the indicators are visible. 16 indicates the key shaft which extends trans- I versely through the machine and is supported at its ends in the side frames 12. 17 is the revolution shaft common in machines of this character supported in bearings in the side frames 12 and provided with the necessary cams and other means for actuating and controlling the various operations of the machine. These havenot' been illustrated as they are well known in the art.

The invention has been embodied in the present instance in a machine having thirtyone manipulative devices such as keys, comprising a plurality of banks of amount keys 18, two transaction keys 19 and 19p, and one or two auxiliary or clerks keys 20 and 20 As is common in machines of this kind there has been provided a key coupler 21 overlying the keys and oscil'latable about the pivots 22 journaled in the side frames. The coupler is provided with a nose or flange 23 along its entire length;

In machines of this kind it is generally recognized desirable to be able to successively partially depress the selected keys whereby they become attached to the common member I such as a coupler and will be fully operated by said common member upon the depression of any of the selected keys. One means for performing the above functlonmaycomprise the form described in the parent application Referring to Fig. 1 the revolution shaft 17 is rotated 360 at each operation of the machine by a rack plate 27 provided with rack teeth 28 meshing at selected times with a pinion 29 fixed to the shaft '17.. To prevent retrograde motion and therefore insure a full operation of the machine, the shaft 17-is provided also with .a ratchet wheel 30 against which bears a pawl 31 pivoted to the side frame 12 at 32 and held thereagainst by a suitable spring 33. At the down-stroke of the key the rear rack teeth engage'the pinion 29 and rotate it 180 and atthe end of this stroke the rack plate 27 engages a spring-pressed shelf 34 and is thereby forced rearwardly so that the forward rack teeth engage the pinion 29 and cause it to turn the shaft 17 the remaining 180. The shelf 34 is pivoted as at 35 and held in normal position againstthe sto' 36b as rin 37. These arts have not been described in detail as they are Well known in the art. V

It is considered desirable to provide means whereby either of the clerks keys 20 or 20 may partially elevate the key coupler to such a position that the transaction and amount keys may be successively'co'upled thereto. As best shown in Fig. 1 each of the clerks keys is provided'with a coupler lifting cam edge 38 engaging a face 39 of a shoulder of the key coupler 21. When a clerks key is partially 1ClBPI8SS6Cl a considerable movement of the key will effect a relatively small movement ofthe coupler which results in a very easy opera ion of said key. As the coupler and keys have different centers the pointof contact 38 and 39 gradually shifts the coupler from the normal position shown in Fig. 1 to a partially elevated position and this initial movement of the coupler is positively terminated by the engagement of a face 4O of a notch 41 former in the clerks key with the flange 23 of the key coupler 21. The key'coupler is held in its partially elevated position by reason of the fact that the full-stroke pawl 31 will engage one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 30.

The transaction and amount keys niay now be initially depressed which operation attaches them to the partially elevated key coupler, it being noted that when the coupler is partially elevated the spring-pressed bars 24 will be slightly above the square notches 42 formed in the rear ends of each of the amount and transaction keys. hen a transaction or amount key is initially depressed the associated bar 24 will be urged by the spring 26 rearwardly to engage the notch 42 of the initially operated key thereby positive ly attaching the key to the key coupler. When the necessary amount and transaction keys have been attached to the key coupler full depression of one of such keys will cause the completion of the upward stroke of the key coupler to perform the usual functions.

The above mechanism is not shown or described in detail since it comprises no part of the present invention and for a more com- I fourfaces, each bearing one of the follow- 7 ing indications A-Cash, B-Cash; A Paid out or B-Paid :out.. :It will be seen-that in this case each. of these aindications is composedof two indi'cia'; the letter signifying the clerk I and correspondingto the series of clerks keys 2O or'20 and the word signifyingthe type ofltransaction such as Cash, which'is anormal operation, or a Paid out transaction which requir'es the depression of the key 19 The mechanism for disposing the-proper face invisible p0?- s'itionv and therefore displayingtheproper. indication, is placedunder the control of a keytof two series (clerk7sand transaction).

;This mechanism comprises twof vertical slides 43 and 445-located on' opposite sides of framework .45- formed -with forwardly extending tails 46' resting on the key coupler 21 (see Fig.1)". These slides are lifted by the coupler at each-operation of themachine. In; order to insure simultaneous movement of the slides 43 and 44and, therefore, prevent wedging of the parts, there is provided a shaft 47 journaled in the rear framework 45' and-having a pair of pinions-48 at its opposite ends co-operating'with-rack teeth 49 {on the forward edges of the slides 43 and 44. Th'e'sli'de 43 isprovided'with a nose 50 forming a stop for a purpose t0 be described later. The upper end ofeach slide is bifurcatedto provide a pairofarms 51.

are provided three vertically movable slides 51 p, 57 and'57 which come into. opera-- tionito position the bars to display the indi cations A-.Paid out. B Cash and B- Paidout respectively-s Said "slides are provided with rearwardly extending shelves 58 58 and-581 ;respectively, normally lothe machine slidablymounted in-the rear cated atsubstantially the same height. These slides are each provided; with tongues 59' for holding said: slides in lifted position by engagement with the topedge of aback rod 60 suitably controlled: bya link 61 whose movement is controlled by a cam 62; (Fig. 2). drivon by the shaft 1-7. When released by the back rod these slides: are started: down. by gravity or-if they should stick in their guides by the action of a spring-urged bail 63' on said tongues.

The gear sector 56 has a pin 64 extending toward the left (Fig. 3) and overlying the shelves-and isprovided'on the right (F i 3) with another pin 65. which: serves as an attaching means for a spring. 66 but extends further for engagement with the stop 50;

I The lower end of the slide 57 B is bent so as to. overlie the rearof the clerks key 20 while the lower end of the slide 57,). is arranged to overlie the Paid out key 1911 so that said slides may be lifted upon the actuation of theirrelated keys. The thirdslide 57 comes into; play when each of said keys 20 and 19 are operated and for this purpose is provided with apivoted' hanger 67. If either one of the keys 191 or' 20;, are operated separately, they will move saidhanger67 sideways and not lift the slide 573p- Whenboth are operated, however, the slide 57, is lifted. As isclearfrom Fig. 3, the tongues59 are located at different elevations and onaccount ofthe varyinglengths of the-slides they are-elevated to and held in different positions so that their respective shelves form variably located stops for-determining, the position of the gear'sector 56 and, therefore, of the indicator bars.

, Operation If a clerk. A makes a cash transaction. he

actuates only thekey 20 inconnection with,

amount keys. During the operation of the machine, the slides 43-and 44 and their attached parts are lifted" by the key coupler so that the indicator bars are correspondingly elevated. When the coupler drops, the slides and their attached parts descend and the parts come to rest with the pin on'the stop 50, it being understood that. during this operation the slides 57 7 or 571 areznotraised. The indicator-bars 521and' 53 will now expose the words A-Cash on the front and back of the machine. 'VVhen the machineis operated by the clerk'B to register a .Paid out transaction, the depression of the keys raises the coupler and therewith the slides 43, 44 and their attached partsas in the previous instance. The Paid out key 19p has, however. lifted the-slide 57p and the B key has lifted the slide 57 and the two keys together, through the agency of the hanger 67, have lifted the slide 57 Their respective supporting'tongues 59. have been caught and held by the back rod.- 60, leaving thethree slides in raisedposition- The shelf 58,... of slide 57... is,- however, in the-highest position (see Fig. 4) and upon. the descent ofithe indicator'parts, serves as aistop. forthe pin 64 thereby causing the turning of thegear sector 56 from the position shown in Fig: 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5 thereby" tnrning the bars 52 and 53 to expose the words B -Paid out at the front and rearof the machine.

' Assuming a cash operation of the machine by the clerk B, the slide 571 will alonebe raised whereupon the shelf 58 forms. astop for positioning the indicator bars to expose the words B-Cash. Likewise, a Paid-out.

operation by the clerk A will result in the lifting of the slide 57 'and the positioning of the shelf 58,; in the path'of. the, pin 64 fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all ooming'witliin the scope of the claims which follow: What is claimed is: I

1. In a cash: register, clerks and transaction keys, a one-piece indicator bearing both clerks and transaction indicia, and

means for controlling said indicator by a clerks key or a transaction key-or by simultaneous operation of both, to expose the proper indication.

. 2. In a cash register, a clerks key, a transaction key, an indicator, controllingslides overlying said keys and operable thereby, a third slide mounted above and between said slides, and a hanger pivoted thereto and cooperable with both of said keys for operating the third slide when both of said keys are operated.

3. In a cash register, three lndicatorshdes,

spaced apart, keys engageable with the two extreme slides, a hanger pivoted to the midd e slide and engageable with both keys, whereby the middle slide is operated when both keys are operated, and an indicator common to said slides and movable difierentially thereby.

l. In a cash register, three indicator slides, spaced apart, keys engageable with the two extreme slides, means carried bv the middle slide and engageable with both keys, whereby the middle slide is operated when both keys are operated, and a rotatable indicator adapted tobe moved by said slides.

In a cash register, keysran indicator slide, means on said slide engageable with *two keys for eflecting operation of said slide when said two keys are operated simultaneously, said means being movable to ineffective position when only one key is operated, and anindicator movable difi'erentiallyby said slides. Y

' 6.- Ina cash register, two groups of keys, a one-piece indicator bearing a plurality of indications, each of which is composed of two indicia, corresponding, respectively, to the two groups of keys, and means for controlling said indicator by a key oteither group or by simultaneous depression of a key in each grouptoexpose the corresponding indication. I

7 In a cash register, a plurality of groups of keys, a one-piece'indicator bearing a plurality otindications, each of which is com-' posed of indicia, corresponding, respectively, to the plurality of groups of keys, and means for controlling said indicator by a key of one group or by simultaneous depression of a key 'ineach of said groups to expose the corresponding indication. V

:8. In a cash register, two groups of keys, a one piece indicator difl erentially movable to expose one of a'plurality of indications at a given point, each ofsaid indications being composed 1 of two indicia, corresponding in 7 character, respectively, to the two groups oi keys, and means for differentially moving said indicator to expose the proper indication, said means being controlled by a key of either grouper by simultaneous operation of a key in each group. c 1

9. In' a cash register, two groups-of keys, a one piece indicator bearing a plurality of in dications, each of which is composed of two" indicia, means whereby any'one'oi the keys of onegroup may be coupled with one of the keys of the second group and means for con trolling said indicator by said keys. V

' 10. In a cash register, a plurality of groups of keys, a one piece indicator bearing a plurality of indications each of which is composed of a piurality of indicia, corresponding:

respectively, to thekeys of one group and a key in. another group, means whereby any one of the keys of one group may be coupled with one of the keys of the second group, and means for controlling said indicator by said keys. I

11. In a cash registentwo groups of keys, a key coupler for uniting keys of both groups, a one piece indicator diiierentially movable to expose one of a plurality of indications at a given point, each of said indications being.

composed of a plurality of indicia correspond *ingin character,respectively, to the keys depressed, and means for. diiierentiaily moving said indicator'to expose the proper indication, said means being controlledby said keys.

12. In a cash register, an indicator for selectively exposing one of. a plurality of in- 1 dic-ations, keys operable singly controlling present an indication corresponding to the said indicator to expose 'anindication corresponding to the respective key and another keyoperable simultaneously-with any one of said first "mentioned keys for operating said indicator to expose an indication corresponding to the keys operated.

7 13. In a cash register, manipulative totalizer selecting devices, an indicator controllable thereby to indicate the totalizer selected, manipulative totalizercontrolling device and means associated therewith for controlling said indicator simultaneously with atotalizer selecting device.

14. In a cash register, clerks keys, an indicator controllable thereby to indicate the key operated, a transaction key andmeans associated therewith for controlling said indicator simultaneously with a clerks key to keys operated. C35 15. In a cash register, the combination of a plurality of keys, an indicator differentially movable to different indicating positions,

means whereby said indicator may be moved to different positions by selective operations singly of certain of the keys, and to other positions only by simultaneous operation of .said keys in certain combinations, said indicator in each position displaying indicia PH identifying eachof the keys operated.

16. In a cash register, the combination with clerksand transaction keys, of an indicator adjustable to different positions, each position corresponding invariably with a paris ticular key. or combination of keys and means requiring simultaneous operation of a certain clerks key and transaction key to effect adjustment of said indicator to one of its positions. 1 V v 17. In a cash register, a plurality of keys, an indicator, means whereby each of said keys determines a corresponding position of said indicator, and means depending upon a simultaneous depression to determine an ad-,, ditional position of said indicator, said indiiator bearing'indicia identifying each of said :18. In a cash register, a rotatable indicator,:a plurality of keys, an element for determining a position of said indicator, and means associated with said element for necessitating a simultaneous operation of said keys to operate the'element.

19. In combination, a plurality of keys, a. rotatable element controlled by the keys and :having a plurality of stop positions, each of which corresponds invariably to one particular key or to a particular combination of keys,'means controlled by the operation of one keyfor moving the rotatable element to one of its stop positions,'and means requiring the simultaneous operation of more than one key for moving the rotatable .element to another stop position. y

20. A machine as defined in claim 19 in which the rotatable element is provided with indicia to identify the particularkey or combination of keys selected.

21. In combination, a rotatable element having a plurality of selectable stop positions, keys for selecting said positions, one of said positions corresponding invariably to a particular combination of two selected keys, a key operated slide for controlling the rotation of the element to its last named po-o sition, said slide having a hanger pivoted thereto and overlying said two keys, whereby said slide is operated only when said two keys are depressed simultaneously.

FREDERICK L. FULLER. 

